Feds OK expanded use of Carolina Beach sand rake

Sunday

Jul 7, 2013 at 11:09 PM

By Ashley WithersAshley.Withers@StarNewsOnline.com

A $40,000 beach rake that has sat basically unused for almost a decade will finally get to see some action in Carolina Beach.The town recently received a letter from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that would allow it to use the rake year-round with some restrictions. Up until this point, the town has been able to use the rake only twice a year during the off-season. The town council voted to purchase the beach rake in September 2004, citing a desire to even out the sand on the beachfront each morning in addition to picking up small trash and cigarette butts. The town then spent about $27,000 on a tractor to pull the rake, as well as $40,000 on the Barber HD600 Surf Rake.But the following April, the town learned it couldn't get a year-round permit from the N.C. Division of Coastal Management because of concerns the machine could interfere with sea turtle nests and other natural resources. The best the town could hope for was permission to use the machine once in the winter and once in the spring.Town officials at the time called this "economically unfeasible."The town then hoped to sell the rake to Myrtle Beach, S.C., for the same amount it paid, but Myrtle Beach rejected the offer. Since that time, the town has continued to petition the state and the U.S. Department of the Interior to allow it to use the machine year-round and, after years of rejection, it appears regulators have finally had a change of heart. According to the letter, Carolina Beach will be allowed use the beach rake in Freeman Park one day a month during the sea turtle nesting season, which runs from May 1 to Nov. 15, as well as an additional two days after a holiday. Beach rake use must take place during daylight hours.It also places other restrictions to ensure the safety of the nesting sea turtles. A sea turtle nest survey must be completed before each cleaning and the beach rake is not allowed within 50 feet of a known nest.The safety of these animals and other marine life has been the primary concerns for the state and federal government, according to Brian Stanberry, the town's director of public works. Stanberry said the town has been coming up with ways to assuage these fears and finally succeeded.Stanberry will oversee the use of the beach rake and he said his team will work closely with the Pleasure Island Sea Turtle Project volunteers when planning to use the machine."There will be good communication between all folks," he said. "Nothing is going to be harmed."The letter still strongly restricts the use of the beach rake near the Boardwalk. In this area, raking can take place only after holidays and after the town's beach music festival. It allows for cleaning to take place for two consecutive days following these events.While the town council had hoped to be able to use the beach rake daily, Councilman Steve Shuttleworth said this is a major improvement from the previous arrangement."The nesting season is the time of year when we have the most people on the beach, when we really need this extra cleaning service," Shuttleworth said. "The concern that the fish and wildlife service had was the same that we have. We don't want to do anything to disturb or inhibit the sea turtles, but we're hoping that these efforts will lead to a cleaner beach."Carolina Beach has applied for a separate Coastal Area Management Act permit from the state based on the stipulations within this acceptance. Stanberry said the town expects to hear back on this permit this week and the regular use of the beach rake will begin soon after state approval.